Julian Assange's lawyers call on Australia to step in over extradition

Julian Assange's mother and legal team have called on the Australian government to ensure the Wikileaks founder gets a fair trial in Sweden and guarantee that he won't eventually be extradited to the US.

Mr Assange, who is an Australian citizen, lost a bitter legal battle in London on Wednesday to block his extradition from Britain to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault.

He now has 14 days to take the case to the British Supreme Court and his legal counsel Geoffrey Robertson called on the Australian government to intervene if the extradition goes through.

"I think Canberra may have to do something about it," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"It's got a duty to help Australians in peril in foreign courts.

"As far as Julian Assange is concerned, Sweden doesn't have bail, doesn't have money bail for foreigners, so he's likely to be held in custody."

Mr Robertson said that his client was unlikely to be given a fair trial in Sweden.

"He's going to be tried in secret, and this is outrageous by our standards and by any standards," he said.

Mr Assange has strongly denied the rape allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and linked to the activities of WikiLeaks. He has expressed fears that his extradition to Sweden would lead to his transfer to the United States to face as yet unspecified charges of spying.

His mother told Australian media that he son would not resist extradition to Sweden if the Australian government could guarantee he will not be extradited to the US later on.

Christine Assange said Canberra must follow its own diplomatic and legal advice that her son was in "clear and present danger" and seek written guarantees he would not be rendered to the US.

"If that was to take place I believe Julian would go to Sweden and not resist it. His concern is that he'll be rendered on," she said.

Mrs Assange said her son was "dismayed" by the court's ruling.

But Mr Assange is unlikely to receive support from the government. Julia Gillard, the prime minister, has in the past criticised Wikileaks as "anarchic" and irresponsible and has so far ignored his pleas for help.

Asked about the matter as she arrived in the French resort town of Cannes for the G20 summit, Ms Gillard said a statement may be issued later.